Question 1

Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that

Accepted Answer

A) planets have circular orbits. 
B) the period of a planet does not depend on its mass. 
C) a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit. 
D) a planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. 
E) planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets. 
A) planets have circular orbits. 
B) the period of a planet does not depend on its mass. 
C) a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit. 
D) a planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. 
E) planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets. D

Question 2

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _ .

Accepted Answer

A) a theory 
B) a paradigm 
C) a Ptolemaic model 
D) a hypothesis 
A) a theory 
B) a paradigm 
C) a Ptolemaic model 
D) a hypothesis A

Question 3

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Kepler 
C) Copernicus 
D) Ptolemy 
E) Galileo 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Kepler 
C) Copernicus 
D) Ptolemy 
E) Galileo B

Question 4

In the Ptolemaic system, Venus should not show phases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

One of the "nails in the coffin" for the Earth- centered universe was

Accepted Answer

A) the phases of the Moon. 
B) Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter. 
C) the retrograde motion of the planets. 
D) Galileo's observation of stars in the Milky Way. 
E) eclipses of the Sun. 
A) the phases of the Moon. 
B) Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter. 
C) the retrograde motion of the planets. 
D) Galileo's observation of stars in the Milky Way. 
E) eclipses of the Sun.

Question 6

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Historians trace the origins of a 24- hour day to

Accepted Answer

A) the Mayans. 
B) the Babylonian astronomer, Meton. 
C) the ancient Egyptians. 
D) the druids of Stonehenge. 
E) the Aztecs. 
A) the Mayans. 
B) the Babylonian astronomer, Meton. 
C) the ancient Egyptians. 
D) the druids of Stonehenge. 
E) the Aztecs.

Question 8

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

Accepted Answer

A) Evolution is only a theory, so there's no reason to think it really happened. 
B) I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long. 
C) Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times. 
D) I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes, and I plan to start testing it soon. 
A) Evolution is only a theory, so there's no reason to think it really happened. 
B) I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long. 
C) Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times. 
D) I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes, and I plan to start testing it soon.

Question 10

At the Sun Dagger in New Mexico, a dagger- shaped beam of sunlight pierces a spiral

Accepted Answer

A) during the totality of a total solar eclipse. 
B) at noon on the day of full moon each month. 
C) every day at noon. 
D) at noon on the summer solstice. 
E) at sunset on the spring equinox. 
A) during the totality of a total solar eclipse. 
B) at noon on the day of full moon each month. 
C) every day at noon. 
D) at noon on the summer solstice. 
E) at sunset on the spring equinox.

Question 11

Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) four moons of Jupiter 
B) phases of Venus 
C) patterns of shadow and sunlight near the dividing line between the light and dark portions of the Moon's face 
D) The Milky Way is composed of many individual stars. 
A) four moons of Jupiter 
B) phases of Venus 
C) patterns of shadow and sunlight near the dividing line between the light and dark portions of the Moon's face 
D) The Milky Way is composed of many individual stars.

Question 12

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Accepted Answer

A) at the end of the Metonic cycle. 
B) on the spring equinox. 
C) on the summer solstice. 
D) during the ninth month of a 12- month lunar cycle. 
E) during a thirteenth month of the Metonic cycle. 
A) at the end of the Metonic cycle. 
B) on the spring equinox. 
C) on the summer solstice. 
D) during the ninth month of a 12- month lunar cycle. 
E) during a thirteenth month of the Metonic cycle.

Question 14

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun- centered solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What advantage did Tycho have compared to other astronomical observers of his time?

Accepted Answer

A) He had access to a new and improved type of observatory. 
B) Tycho was clearly much smarter. 
C) He had access to telescopes. 
A) He had access to a new and improved type of observatory. 
B) Tycho was clearly much smarter. 
C) He had access to telescopes.

Question 16

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Kepler 
C) Galileo 
D) Copernicus 
E) Ptolemy 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Kepler 
C) Galileo 
D) Copernicus 
E) Ptolemy

Question 17

The ancient goal of astrology was to

Accepted Answer

A) understand the origin of Earth. 
B) antagonize astronomers. 
C) make a more accurate model of the universe. 
D) predict the passing of the seasons. 
E) predict human events. 
A) understand the origin of Earth. 
B) antagonize astronomers. 
C) make a more accurate model of the universe. 
D) predict the passing of the seasons. 
E) predict human events.

Question 18

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Why did Tycho conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) He did not conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth. 
B) Long- held tradition prevented him from even considering the idea. 
C) He incorrectly measured the distance to the Sun and concluded it was in a low orbit around the Earth. 
D) He could not detect the parallax of stars expected if the Earth revolves around the Sun. 
A) He did not conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth. 
B) Long- held tradition prevented him from even considering the idea. 
C) He incorrectly measured the distance to the Sun and concluded it was in a low orbit around the Earth. 
D) He could not detect the parallax of stars expected if the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Question 20

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _ .

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.

In the Ptolemaic system, Venus should not show phases.

One of the "nails in the coffin" for the Earth- centered universe was

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Historians trace the origins of a 24- hour day to

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

At the Sun Dagger in New Mexico, a dagger- shaped beam of sunlight pierces a spiral

Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun?

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun- centered solar system.

What advantage did Tycho have compared to other astronomical observers of his time?

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

The ancient goal of astrology was to

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Why did Tycho conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth?

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _ .

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.

In the Ptolemaic system, Venus should not show phases.

One of the "nails in the coffin" for the Earth- centered universe was

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Historians trace the origins of a 24- hour day to

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

At the Sun Dagger in New Mexico, a dagger- shaped beam of sunlight pierces a spiral

Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun?

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun- centered solar system.

What advantage did Tycho have compared to other astronomical observers of his time?

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

The ancient goal of astrology was to

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Why did Tycho conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth?

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters